Internal-combustion multiple-cylinder engine.



A. RASMUSEN, Sn. & A.RASIV|USEN, IR.

4INTERNAL COMBUSTION MULTIPLE C'YLINDER ENGINE..

APPLlcATloN FILED APR.14,1916.

Lw@ f Pate-mamar. 27,1917.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. RASIVIUSEN, SII. I A. RSIVIUSEN, 1R.

INTERNAL coNBLIsTIoN MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I4,I1916. y

Eatented MILL. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ALRASIVIUSEN, SR. & A. RASII/IUSEN, IR..

INTERNAL COIVIBUSTION MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICTION FILED APR-14.11915-k Patented Im. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ANDREW RASMUSEN, sn., AND IANDREW RAsMUsEN, Jn., or RIDGWAY, COLORADO.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION MUIlTIPLE- CYIJINFER ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M31'. 27, 19171'.

Application filed Api'i1`14, 1916. Serial No. 91,086.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, ANDREW RAsMUsnN, Sr., and ANDREW RAsMUsEN, I r., citizens yof the United States, residing at Ridgway, in the county of Ouray, State of Colorado, have clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

ternal combustion multiple cylinder engine including a single driving crank shaft, to

, which the pistons of the cylinder are connected, to insure uniform speed of the shaft. One of the objects of the invention is to provide anengine of this kind, .which is simple, eiicient and practicalin construction.

Another-object of the vinvention is to provide an engine, which is designed economically with respect `to construction, compactness, and material.

'Another object of .the'invention is the provision of a multiple of cylinders on a single crankshaft.

A further object'of theinven'tion is to provide an engine of this kind having a rotary slide val-ve, for coperating witheall ports for intaking live charges and exhausting utilized gases.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for timing the firing of the multiple of cylinders automatically and correspondingly with the speed of the engine. In other words, shouldthe engine be running at a low ratev of speed, the charges will be correspondingly red, and when the engine speed increases, the charges are fired more rapidly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means which are operated by'centrifugal force for controlling the iirings of the charges correspondingly to the speed of` the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine so constructed as to facilitate overhaulng or repairing. l

Another object of the invention is to provide animproved engine, to which all required devices and appliances, such as roller bearings, carbureter, magneto, spark plugs, etc., of conventional construction, may be This invention relates to an improved in-' applied, without redesigning, or altering the design ofthe engine.

ln practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling actuating devices, and the rotary slide valve member.

'Fig 2 is a View in elevation of the engine, illustrating the face thereof opposite to that shown in Fig. l, and illustrating the intake and exhaust manifold pipes.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the engine, showing the revoluble slide valve member, and the multiple of cylinders, and illustrating the intake and exhaust ports, and the relative positions of the pistons.

Fig. 4 isa sectional view on line 4:*4 of Fig. 3. 4

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line'fof Fig. 3, showing how the utilized gases are exhausted from one of the cylinders.

F ig.A G is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 3 showing the intakeof a charge in one of the cylinders.

Fig. 7 is a vsectional view on line 7 7 of A F ig. 3, showing how the ievoluble slide valve member or ring covers the intake and exhaust ports, during the stage. of compression of a charge in one of the cylinders.

Fig. 8 isan enlarged, detail perspective view of thesparking mechanism cariied by 'the revoluble slide valve. I

cut away to form openings 5, which are covered by the plates 6 bolted by means of the bolts 7 to the walls 3 and 4. The annular wall 2 provides a crank chamber 8. The walls 3 and 4 are cut away to provide'the openings 5, so that by removing the plates 6 access may be had to the interior of the crank chamber. The plates G are provided with suitable bearings 9, in which the crank Extending aboutthe crank pin 12 otth'e crank is a U-shaped strap 413", the ends 14 of which are bolted 'to opposite sides of the pitman 15 by 'means of the bolts 16, thereby connecting the pitinan to the crank pin, there 4being a {iller block 17 between the crankpinl and the endl of the pitnianwhiclris c onnected to said straps. Also loosely mounted upon the crank pin is a pair of circular plates .or disks 18, between which the strap 13 is arranged. As shown clearly'in Fig. 3 there is a multiplicity of cylinder engines, and for the sake o f-clearness, and enabling them to be distinguished one from-theother, they are designated respectively (ab, c, d and e, and mounted inthese cylinders are the pistons a', b', 0', d and e. '1 he piston a 4is connected to the pitman 15 by the pin 19,

and connected respectively to the other pistons by the pins are the pitmenl 21, 22, 23 and 24, which means of the pins 25. The cylinders a to e inclusive have their heads 26 provided with threaded openings 27, into which the extensions 28 of the annular-Wall 29 of the casing the openings 36 vrespective cylinders.

- apart from the conical Wall 29, thereby vid-ing the annular valve ring 41 revolubly slides-or rotates. A plurality of plates 42-.ar'e secured i 1 are threaded. Thesefextensions 28 extend radially and have portsvoropenings 30, 31, 32, 33- and 34. The cylinders-a to e inclusive near their other ends are provided with vannular flanges 35, which arethreaded into the casing -1, by which construction and the threaded connections at 27 'the cylinders@` to e inclusive are held rmlyin position. As-

' shown in Eig. 44 the Wall 29 of the casing 1 is inclined or conical, 'and said casing'l is provided with an annular flange 38, the portion 39 of Whlch overhangs and is spaced,

a Wedge-shaped channel 40, in which by screws 43 to the overhan'ging portion 39 of the flange 38, and are designed to overlie the annular valve valve ring 41 has a plurality of spark plugs 44, 45 and 46 threaded through its Wall, and.,

or openings 30 at the time of firing 1n the Adjacent the Wall 3 -of the casing the polygonal shaped =intakemani fold and annular or circular exhaust mani-.

pipes threaded into the ports fold pipes 51 and'52 are arranged, which are provided with lateral extensions 53 and 54, 'which'l are tubular and are 5 9 and 60; 61 and 62; and 63 and 64. The intake andexhaust manifold pipes lvand and exhaust ports 70, 71, Vdesigned to register jrespectively with and AWall 4"'o' the rcasing 1, and

-are in turn pivotally con-l nected tothe disks or circularplates 18 by,

of geals motion crank "shaft 10 to the valve ring 41, so that tween .the ports of the annular wall`2 ofr1ng41, thereby retaining the ring' in said channel 40. The annular' tacting terminals -and exhaust manifold pipes 65 and- 66, as

shown clearly in Fig. 2. The valve ring 41 isprovided with intake ports 67, 68 and 69, and 7 2, which are betweenthe ports 30 to 34 and the ports 56 to 64 inclusive, when intaking charges, and.

when exhausting utilized 4gases' into and from the'dierent cylinders alternately with each other. Thevalve ring 41 is providedy With 'aijflange 74, partly overhanging the this ange 74 is provided with a series of geangpteet Carried on a stub pin 76 projecting from the wall 4- rotatablyis a gear 77, Which meshes With the teeth of the valve ring.. vRotatably mounted upon a stub pin 78 which prejects romfthe annular or circular plate 6 is a Igea1""79, which meshes with the gear .77.

`Keyed to the crank shaft 10 as shown -at 80 is a gear 81, which in turn meshes with the be seen that by this chain gear 79; It is to,

'is transmitted from thel will register w1th`and be 3 0 to 34 inclusive, andthe ports 55' to 64 inclusive. The valve ring 41 adjacent the spark plugs has pivoted thereony by means 'of the screws 83 angular, Weighted. members 84. -Each fmember` 84 is its various ports provided with two arms 85 and 86. The

is substantially V-shaped, but .may

arm 85 `-b'e :any other suitable shape, and is 'pro-- vided with a binding screw orpost-87 anda contacting terminal 88,- there being a wire or lead 89 extendingvfrom 'the binding post 87 to the spark plug. 'The arm 86 has a weight 90, and securedto the valve 'ring by' means4 of -suitable screws 91'is" a plate'92, the'end 93 yof Whichacts'as an abutment for the 'arm l 85 of the angular .member 84.-..A leaf'sprin'g 94vi's securedby screws 95 to--the'v other end` of th'e bar 92,' and has' its' free end bearing againstthe arm 86, therebyholding the arm 1;

85 toward and against the en'd93 of thebar 92. Carried'by the Wall 4 is a plurality of lugs 97, and secured' toeach of the-lugs are the yieldable blades 9'8"and 99 havingconof the blades 98 is secured toits lug '97a binding post 102 1s provided,andl connectingl lthe binding posts 102 are the lWires or'leads 103, 104, 105 and 10,6, and theleads or wiresl107 and 108 from the lowermostbind- 1 ing post 102 1n Fig. 1 are designed to connectto some suitablesourceo current supply.l It is to be noted that as the valve ring revolubl'y slides hl. 75." l

and'lOlk- Whereeach it in its channel 40, the contacting terminals 88 sweep against the yield- 1- able'blades w99, ltherebycausing the contacting terminals 55 'and 56 g' 57 'and 58;

rate of speed the sparking of the spark plugs is retarded, owing to the arms 85 being in contact with the end 93 of the bar 92. However, just so soon as'the speed of the engine.

increases, the weighted arms 86 of the angular members 84swing outwardly owing toy thecentrifugal force, against the ac ti'on of the spring blades 94, thereby advancing the spark of the spark plug. A water space 115 is formed between the walls 2 and 29 .of the substantially midway the intake stroke, the

piston c about to complete its firing stroke,

the piston cl about Ahaving begun its compression stroke, while the piston c is substantially midway its exhaust stroke. With respect to these relative positions of the multiple of pistons, the various intake and 'exhaustports 67, 68, and 69; and 70, 71, and

72, arepositioned relative to the ports 30,

` 31, 32, 33, and 34; and 55, 56; 57, 58; 59, 60;

61, 62; and 63,-.and 64, whereby the above firing, intake, and aboutl the complete firing, compression, and 'exhaust strokes may take place. While the Apiston a is moving to complete its firing stroke as a. result of the spark plug 44 having tired its charge, the valve ring will move in the direction of the 'arrow g, so that the exhaust port 70 will assume a position two-thirds of the space between the ports 30 and 31, and the port 67 out of registration with the portsy 3l and 57 to a position one-third of the space between ports 30 and 31. This movement of the valve ring brings the exhaust port 71 in registration with the ports 32 and 60 for exports 32 and 59, the piston c about starting its intake stroke, the piston d starting its exhaust stroke, while the piston e is starting its compression stroke. Owing to the provivsion of the three intake ports and the three exhaust ports and the arrangement and' the ratio of the gears 75, 77, 79 and 81, (the ratio of which gears in practice is to be six to one) the cylinders a, Z), c, d and e will function alternately in the direction of rotation of the valve and crank shaft, in view of which the table below may be followed.

Strokes. Strokes. Strokes. Strokes.

a Firing Exhaust.... Intake Compression,

b Intake Compression Firingpml. Exhaust.

i c Firing Exhaust Intake Compression.

d Compression Firing Exhaust. Intake.

e..... Exhaust.. Intake Compression Firing.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is: v

t 1. In a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, a casing, a multipleof radially disposed cylinders, a crank shaft mounted in bearings of the casing, pistonsoperable in the cylinders Yand beingcennected Vrespectively to the crank shaft, said casing having an outer wall provided with an aii- Iiular channel, a valve ring slidable revolubly in the channel, said cylinders having ports of communication with the outer wall of the channel having an in take and an exhaust port for each cylinder, said valve ring having a plurality of intake and exhaust ports for registering with the ports of the cylinders and the intake and vexhaust ports of the outer wall of the chain hansting the gases from the cylinder c, the

spark plug 46 in position to fire acharge in cylinder d, and the intake port 69 in registration with the ports 34 and 63, whereby an intake of a charge may take place in cylinder e. Again referrin01 to cylinder a it is to be seen that when the piston a is substantially midway its exhaust stroke (for instance, as represented bythe piston e), the valve ring has moved, so that the port 70 will complete the space between ports 30 and 31, bringing the port 70 in registration with the ports 30 and 56, whereby the piston a. may exhaust the utilized gases from the cylinder a. Therefore when the piston ,a completesits exhaust stroke, the piston b has completed its compression stroke (the spark plug 45 having 4reached the port 31 by this time, the compressed charge in cylinder b is fired), and in this case the intake 68 is in registration with the nel, for intaking and exhausting'charges.V

2. In a multiple lcylinder internal combustion engine, a casing, a multiple of ra-v dially disposed cylinders, a crank shaft mounted in bearings of the casing, pistons operable in the cylinders and being connected respectiveiy to the crank shaft, said casing having an outer wall provided with an annular channel, a valve ring slidable revolubly in the channel, said cylinders having ports of communication with the channel, thea-outer wall of the channel having an intake and an exhaust port for each cylinder, said valve ring having a plurality of intake and exhaust' ports for registering with the. ports of the cylinders and the intake and yexhaust ports of the outer wall of the channel, for intaking and exhausting charges, spark plugs carried by the valve ring, said casing having a plurality of electrical con-vr tacting terminals, and means carried by the ring and electrically connected to the spark the4 channel,`

said valve ring having a plurality of intake plug and cooperating with the terminals `of the casing for lalternately .operating the spark plugs.4

3. In a n ultiple cylinder internal comvvhustion engine, a casing, a multiple of radially disposed` cylinders, a crank shaft niouiitedin bearings of the casing, pistons operable in the cylinders and being connected respectively to the crank shaft, said cas- ,ing having an outer wall provided with .an

annular channel, a. valve ring slidable -revolubly in the channel, said cylinders having ports of communication with the channel, the outer wall of the channel having an intake and an exhaust port for each cylinder',

and exhaust ports for registering With the ports of the cylinders and th'e intake and exhaust ports of the outer Wall .of the channel, for intaking and exhausting charges,

v and means of connection between the valve ring and the crankshaft for impartingmo tion to the valve ring.

4, In a mult1plecyl1nderinternal combustion engine, a casing, a multiple of rad'ially disposed cylinders, va crank shaft vdially disposed cylinders,

mounted in bearings' of the casing, pistons operable in the cylinders and being connected respectively to the crank shaft, said casing having an outer Wall provided with yan annular channel wedge-shaped in cross section, tion slidable revolubly in the` channel, said cylinders' having ports of communication .with the channel, the outer Wall of the channel having intake and exhaustports for each cylinder, Vsaid valve 4ring vhaving a plurality of intake and exhaust ports-for registering with the ports ofthe cylinders and the intakeand exhaust ports of the outer Wall of the channel for intaking and exhausting charges, and spark plugs ycarried by theslidable valve ring. 5. In a multiple cylinderA internal combustion engine, a casing, a multiple of'raa -crank shaft mounted' in bearings of the casing, pistons operable Ain 'the cylinders and being vconl nected respectively to the crank shaft, said casing having an outer Wall provided With anannular channel Wedge-shapedin cross a valve ring `Wedge-shaped in cross sece .the casing for alternately operating section, a\valve ring-Wedge-,shaped inl cross section slidable revolub'ly in the channel, said cylinders having ports of communication with the channel, the outer Wall of the channel having intake and exhaust ports for each cylinder', said valve ring'having a jplurality ofintake-and exhaust, ports for registering with the ports of the cylinders and the intakeand exhaust ports of the outer wall `of tlie channel for intaking and eX- liausting charges, said valve ring having an yoveilianging flange provided with gear teeth, a train of gears carried by the casing coperating with the gear teeth of thevalva ring and having a gear connection with the crank shaft for ,imparting motion to the valve ring.

G. In -a multiple cylinder internal comv bustion engine, a` casing, a multir e of rain'oiinted in bearings of the casing, pistons operable in the cylinders and being connect! ed respectively'to the crankshaft, said casing having an outer Wall provided With anannular channel, a valve ring .'slidable revolu'bly in the channel, said cylinders having vports of communication with the channel,

dially disposed-cylinders, a crank 'shaft` casing hav-ingleJ plurality ofv electrical contacting terminals, and `means 'carried by the ringand electrically connected to the spark plug andcoperating with the terminals of the spark plugs, 4and means for advancingv and retarding the spark,

-In testimony whereof We have signed our.

names to this specification in the presence' of- "two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW RAsMUsi-EN, SEN. 4ANDREW RAsMUsEN, JR. Witnesses: r j I A. 1E.; WAL'ri-Iniz, S. BAUCHERS. 

